Daniels punts Mourdock endorsement question

"I'm a non-combatant actually, in deference to my new job at Purdue," Daniels told Stephen Colbert on his late-night comedy show Thursday. "I'm not trying to duck your question."

"You're not trying to but you are," Colbert quipped.

"With some justification, on the day I accepted the new job at Purdue, out of respect for their nonpartisan status, I said I would recuse myself from anything partisan, and I have: I haven't taken a role for or against anybody," Daniels said. "It's sort of a vow of political celibacy."

The position gives Daniels an out from weighing in on Mourdock's controversial comments on rape and abortion that threaten to unravel his Senate bid.

After his term ends in January, Daniels is slated to become the next president of Purdue. While he backed Sen. Dick Lugar in the Senate GOP primary, he announced his endorsement of Mourdock in May after he defeated the veteran senator. Daniels was later selected for the Purdue job in June, vowing to stay off the campaign trail.